WWYD? Observations of a hot mess family on airplane

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because of a unexpected death in the family, I had to fly alone with our then-4, 2 and 8 month olds on an extremely long, two pronged, international flight. It was so miserable that I cannot so it adequate justice. It was, without question, the hardest 30ish hours of my life. My kids are actually normally pretty well behaved and they weren’t intentionally bad on the flights. But, 30 hours (with a 6 hour delay during the layover because of course there was)... is just a lot. 2 of them were in diapers. Only the 4 year old could remotely be left alone to change one of them. I am literally recoiling just thinking about it. I must have looked like I was trying my best (I was), because the other passengers were unexpectedly lovely. It actually gave me renewed faith in humanity. And they didn’t even know we were headed to a funeral (and because I was needed to help out), though I did explain it was an unexpected emergency.

Bologna. You were so close to the deceased you were required to help, but it close enough that your husband would attend also?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would have turned my airpods up and put on my eyemask.

+1000

+2000 This is the only way to handle that situation.

[Anonymous]

Why wouldn't the two adults sit with a kid on either side of them? One of them could have also held the baby on their lap. I don't understand why the kids were left unsupervised to aggravate one another. And how on earth was their mother allowed to move to a seat at the front of the plane when that would mean that her kids were left unattended?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why wouldn't the two adults sit with a kid on either side of them? One of them could have also held the baby on their lap. I don't understand why the kids were left unsupervised to aggravate one another. And how on earth was their mother allowed to move to a seat at the front of the plane when that would mean that her kids were left unattended?

The nanny was with the kids.

I just flew alaska recently and there were rows and rows that were empty. People moved and spread out after the seatbelt sign was turned off. I got a whole row to myself on one leg each direction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because of a unexpected death in the family, I had to fly alone with our then-4, 2 and 8 month olds on an extremely long, two pronged, international flight. It was so miserable that I cannot so it adequate justice. It was, without question, the hardest 30ish hours of my life. My kids are actually normally pretty well behaved and they weren’t intentionally bad on the flights. But, 30 hours (with a 6 hour delay during the layover because of course there was)... is just a lot. 2 of them were in diapers. Only the 4 year old could remotely be left alone to change one of them. I am literally recoiling just thinking about it. I must have looked like I was trying my best (I was), because the other passengers were unexpectedly lovely. It actually gave me renewed faith in humanity. And they didn’t even know we were headed to a funeral (and because I was needed to help out), though I did explain it was an unexpected emergency.

Bologna. You were so close to the deceased you were required to help, but it close enough that your husband would attend also?

Not sure what exactly you’re asking? My DH did attend the funeral; the deceased was in his immediate family. He flew out earlier because he rushed to make it in time to say goodbye... although at the time we were hoping it wasn’t goodbye. (This was all totally out of nowhere; an accident resulting in a serious head injury.) We couldn’t all go on that little notice/the kids and I would probably not have gone right then if we’d been talking a long recovery rather than a funeral. DH’s whole family was a complete mess and I flew out to help with the deceased’s small children will his widow was handling all of the funeral arrangements and barely holding on. We all flew back together a few weeks later.

[Anonymous]

Not believable. First- no way you could observe all this. Not possible unless you were standing and facing their row for much of the flight. Second, according to you two seats were wet (with soda and pee) - and you think that those kids then sat on those seats?


Not believable.

[Anonymous]

If the mom
Moved, why didn’t you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would have secretly enjoyed the shi$show.

what is enjoyable about this scenario?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because of a unexpected death in the family, I had to fly alone with our then-4, 2 and 8 month olds on an extremely long, two pronged, international flight. It was so miserable that I cannot so it adequate justice. It was, without question, the hardest 30ish hours of my life. My kids are actually normally pretty well behaved and they weren’t intentionally bad on the flights. But, 30 hours (with a 6 hour delay during the layover because of course there was)... is just a lot. 2 of them were in diapers. Only the 4 year old could remotely be left alone to change one of them. I am literally recoiling just thinking about it. I must have looked like I was trying my best (I was), because the other passengers were unexpectedly lovely. It actually gave me renewed faith in humanity. And they didn’t even know we were headed to a funeral (and because I was needed to help out), though I did explain it was an unexpected emergency.

That sounds horrible. I would have just stayed home with the kids. Since the death was on your husband’s side, there is no need to haul 3 young kids internationally for a funeral of someone they probably didn’t know. I’m sure everyone would have understood why you didn’t go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't believe you.

Neither do I. Plus, OP lost me at "on accident."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because of a unexpected death in the family, I had to fly alone with our then-4, 2 and 8 month olds on an extremely long, two pronged, international flight. It was so miserable that I cannot so it adequate justice. It was, without question, the hardest 30ish hours of my life. My kids are actually normally pretty well behaved and they weren’t intentionally bad on the flights. But, 30 hours (with a 6 hour delay during the layover because of course there was)... is just a lot. 2 of them were in diapers. Only the 4 year old could remotely be left alone to change one of them. I am literally recoiling just thinking about it. I must have looked like I was trying my best (I was), because the other passengers were unexpectedly lovely. It actually gave me renewed faith in humanity. And they didn’t even know we were headed to a funeral (and because I was needed to help out), though I did explain it was an unexpected emergency.

That sounds horrible. I would have just stayed home with the kids. Since the death was on your husband’s side, there is no need to haul 3 young kids internationally for a funeral of someone they probably didn’t know. I’m sure everyone would have understood why you didn’t go.

You are just a bully. PP knows what her own family needs, and she decided not to abandon her husband as he dealt with the untimely death of a loved one. You are a shrew.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because of a unexpected death in the family, I had to fly alone with our then-4, 2 and 8 month olds on an extremely long, two pronged, international flight. It was so miserable that I cannot so it adequate justice. It was, without question, the hardest 30ish hours of my life. My kids are actually normally pretty well behaved and they weren’t intentionally bad on the flights. But, 30 hours (with a 6 hour delay during the layover because of course there was)... is just a lot. 2 of them were in diapers. Only the 4 year old could remotely be left alone to change one of them. I am literally recoiling just thinking about it. I must have looked like I was trying my best (I was), because the other passengers were unexpectedly lovely. It actually gave me renewed faith in humanity. And they didn’t even know we were headed to a funeral (and because I was needed to help out), though I did explain it was an unexpected emergency.

That sounds horrible. I would have just stayed home with the kids. Since the death was on your husband’s side, there is no need to haul 3 young kids internationally for a funeral of someone they probably didn’t know. I’m sure everyone would have understood why you didn’t go.

I don't know what your family is like, but not coming for a funeral (and for awhile afterwards) for a very close family member is just not something that I would do. Particularly for a tragic/unexpected death leaving a widow and young kids? Sure, if you can't afford it, that's one thing... but just because you didn't feel like making the trip?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because of a unexpected death in the family, I had to fly alone with our then-4, 2 and 8 month olds on an extremely long, two pronged, international flight. It was so miserable that I cannot so it adequate justice. It was, without question, the hardest 30ish hours of my life. My kids are actually normally pretty well behaved and they weren’t intentionally bad on the flights. But, 30 hours (with a 6 hour delay during the layover because of course there was)... is just a lot. 2 of them were in diapers. Only the 4 year old could remotely be left alone to change one of them. I am literally recoiling just thinking about it. I must have looked like I was trying my best (I was), because the other passengers were unexpectedly lovely. It actually gave me renewed faith in humanity. And they didn’t even know we were headed to a funeral (and because I was needed to help out), though I did explain it was an unexpected emergency.

That sounds horrible. I would have just stayed home with the kids. Since the death was on your husband’s side, there is no need to haul 3 young kids internationally for a funeral of someone they probably didn’t know. I’m sure everyone would have understood why you didn’t go.

I don't know what your family is like, but not coming for a funeral (and for awhile afterwards) for a very close family member is just not something that I would do. Particularly for a tragic/unexpected death leaving a widow and young kids? Sure, if you can't afford it, that's one thing... but just because you didn't feel like making the trip?

Some people just like to bash on families with more than 1 or 2 children.
I bet that the pp's kids are adorable. And it sounds like they are being raised in a loving, generous family that helps each other out. I'm glad that you had three kids, pp, and that you brought them to the funeral to help your extended family. We need more kind and thoughtful people in this world, and it sounds like you are raising some.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s good that some families make the sacrifice to go to a family member’s funeral. No one came to my grandfather’s funeral even though he was generous and gave money to several family members. There are a lot of selfish people on that side of the family and they would probably keep walking if they saw you dying on the sidewalk. The people who don’t believe the PP are probably like them.